Door jamb with dado joint



jufiy E8, 3967 L. M. DRAPER 333L362 DOOR JAMB WITH DADO JOINT Filed Sept. 17, 1965 Fig] 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Lance M. Draper INVENTOR.

July 18, 1967 1.. M. DRAPER DOOR JAMB WITH DADO JOINT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 17, 1965 6 4 W 3 4 r\ 8 [m 5H1 IH-n/ m w 6 Q m .m fi F INVENTOR.

Ana I! '5 r WW Lance M. Draper A Home United States Patent Filed Sept. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 488,108 Claims. (Cl. 49-504) The present invention generally relates to a prefabricated door frame and more particularly a jamb assembly including a header jamb and side jambs incorporating a novel dado joint between the header jamb and side jambs.

An object of the present invention is to provide a door jamb assembly including a dado joint of a novel construction interconnecting the header jamb and side jambs combined with a novel assembly of casing including a miter joint in the casing elements so that the dado joint will serve to wedge or force the mitered casing elements together thus rendering a joint assembly and a complete door frame that is easily assembled and readily orientated in position and securely connected with the casings capable of serving as the means for retaining the header jamb and side jambs assembled.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a door frame assembly including a novel dado joint having a wedge configuration on one side thereof interconnecting each end of the header jamb with the side jambs together with adjustment screws incorporated in the header jamb for engaging the rough framing so that as the adjustment screw is tightened, it will put pressure against the header jamb and force the header and component parts downward thus locking the side jambs into the header jamb and bringing the miter joint of the casing together.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a door frame having readily movable spacing tabs incorporated therein which assist in properly spacing the edge of the door from the edge of the jamb thus giving it the proper orientation when the door is hung.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a pre-manufactured door jamb incorporating features enumerated in the preceding paragraphs which is relatively easy to install, accurate in construction and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which Will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a door frame constructed in accordance with the present invention with a conventional door mounted therein;

FIGURE 2 is a plan sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 22 of FIG- URE 1 illustrating the structural details of the door frame and door assembly;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmental perspective view illustrating the interconnection between the header jamb and side jamb including the dado joint and adjustment screw;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded group perspective view illustrating the components of one of the side jambs;

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view illustrating the construction of the present invention employed with a bifold door; and

FIGURE 6 is a detailed spectional view illustrating the manner of installation of the header jamb and side jambs illustrating the use of the adjustment screw in forcing the header jamb downwardly against the side jambs.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the door frame of the present invention which is illustrated in combination with a conventional swinging door 12 having the usual supporting hinges 14 at one edge thereof and a conventional doorknob assembly 16 adjacent the opposite edge thereof for operation in the usual manner.

The door frame 10 includes a pair of side jambs 18 and a head jamb or header jamb 20 across the top thereof. Side casing members 22 also are included together with a head casing member 24 which are in engagement with each other along a mitered joint 26. The frame 10 is associated with a rough framing head 28 and a rough framing side or buck jamb 30 in a conventional manner with the side jamb 18 being normally spaced from the rough framing side 30 slightly with the casing members 20 forming a finished connection between the side jamb 18 and the adjacent wall structure 32 which may be a conventional plaster wall, dry wall or any other suitable Wall construction.

As illustrated in FIGURE 2, each casing member 22 is provided with a projecting tongue 34 at the edge thereof where it engages the edge of the side jamb 18 and the tongue 34 is received within a groove 36 in the side edge of the side jamb 18 and is secured therein by suitable nail or other fastener 38. This construction enables some variation in the wall thickness within the limits of the depth of the groove 36 so that the tongues 34 will be retained therein and the casing members 22 will be flat against the wall surfaces. The same arrangement is provided for the head casing members 24 which are also provided with tongues received in grooves 36 in the head jamb 20.

One of the significant features of the above invention is the provision of a wedge-type dado joint between the head jamb 20 and the side jamb 18. This includes the provision of a transversely extending groove 40 in the form of a dado groove or kerf having one side 42 per pendicular with the top and bottom surfaces of the head jamb 20 and the other side thereof 44 orientated in inclined relation and downwardly and outwardly inclined as illustrated in FIGURE 6. Correspondingly, the upper end of the side jamb 18 has the rear corner 46 thereof mitered or bevelled to form an inclined surface matching With the inclined wall 44 of the groove 40. Thus, as the head jamb 20 is forced downwardly onto the side jamb 18, the jambs will be securely locked together and the side jamb 18 will be wedged inwardly as the head jamb 20 is moved downwardly. Thus, when the casing members 22 and 24 are applied to the side and head jambs and the side jambs are then inserted into the head jamb, the Wedge-type dado joint forces the surfaces of the mitered joint 26 of the casing members 22 and 24 into tight contacting relation.

As illustrated specifically in FIGURE 6, an adjustment screW 48 extends through the head jamb 20 and is screwthreaded through a threaded nut 50 which preferably is in the form of a washer of square or polygonal configuration having downturned corners 52 which are driven into the head jamb 20 thus securing the threaded Washer or nut 50 in place. The inner end of the threaded member 48 engages the rough framing head 28 and the other end of the screw 48 is provided with the usual outwardly tapering screw head 54 having a slot or kerf 56 therein for receiving a screwdriver or other suitable implement for rotating the adjustable pressure screw 48. The header jamb 20 may be countersunk as at 58 to a sufiicient depth to assure that the inner end of the adjusting screw 48 will engage with the rough framing head 28. If desired, the diameter of the threaded element 48 may be continuous throughout its length thus eliminating the necessity of countersinking the bore through the head jamb. Also, if desired, an enlarged pressure plate or pad may be provided on the inner end of the adjusting screw 48.

Also, it will be understood that a similar adjusting screw 48 is provided adjacent the other end of the head jamb 20 and the bore for the screw as well as the head of the adjusting screw itself is concealed by a door stop 60 secured in place by fasteners such as staples 62 or the like. A similar door stop 64 is provided for the side jamb 18 and these may be applied after installation of the head jamb 20 and side jambs 18 to enable complete concealment of the adjusting screw 48 and to assure that the length of the door stop 64 is such that it will contact the inner surface of the head jamb 20 and the length of the door stop 60 is sufiicient to contact the door stop 64 although the overlapping arrangement may be arranged oppositely from that illustrated in FIGURE 6 if desired.

FIGURE 4 illustrates the structure of the side jamb 18 including the recesses or rabbetted portions 66 for receiving a portion of the hinge 14 which is secured in position in the usual manner with wood screws 68. Also, small spacer tabs 70 are attached to the side jamb 18 and also the head jamb 20 by staples 72 or equivalent fasteners for properly spacing the edge of the door 12 from the jamb so that it will be properly orientated in relation thereto when the door and door jambs are assembled.

FIGURE 5 illustrates the door jamb assembly of the present invention employed with conventional bifold doors 74 and the structure of the jambs are the same except that no spacer tabs, door stop or hinges are used on a bifold door unit or a bipassing door unit such as employed on cabinets or the like.

With the present invention, the door jamb is manufactured as a complete unit in a precision manner and the adjustment of the casing in relation to the jambs eliminates shimming and the use of the adjustable screw in the head jamb eliminates the necessity of nailing the head jamb to the side jambs and at the same time serves to securely move the edges of the mitered joint between the casing members into tight engagement. This construction provides a rigid and tight interconnecting joint between the head jamb and side jambs thus providing a rigid door structure and positively precludes any lateral shifting of the side jamb after installation thereby providing a positive and completely adequate support for a conventional swinging door, a bifold door and for a bipass sliding door or the like.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A door frame comprising a pair of side jambs interconnected at their upper ends by means of a head jamb, the bottom surface of said head jamb having transversely extending grooves adjacent the opposite ends thereof receiving the upper ends of said side jambs, the

remote walls of said grooves being inclined upwardly and inwardly and the upper ends of said side jambs being provided with corresponding inclined outer corners engaged with the remtoe inclined walls of the grooves thus providing a coacting wedging engagement when the upper ends of the side jambs are forced into the grooves.

2. The structure as definde in claim 1 wherein said head jamb is provided with opposite end adjusting screws extending thcrethrough and having abutting ends projecting upwardly therefrom for engagement with a rough framing head for exerting downward pressure on the head jamb for retaining the head jamb and the side jambs in tightly interconnected relation.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein each of the side jambs and the head jamb has a longitudinal groove in each edge thereof, casing members having inwardly projecting tongues adjustably received in said grooves and being secured to the jambs for forming a transition with the adjacent wall surfaces and at the same time enabling the door frame to be installed in wall openings in which the wall thickness may vary, the juncture between the side casing members and head casing members including a mitered joint, said adjusting screw serving to urge the edges of the mitered joint in tight contacting relation.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said side jambs and head jamb each has a door stop secured thereto, and spacer tabs attached to the jambs for orientating the side and top edges of a door properly in relation to the j ambs.

5. In a door frame having a pair of side jambs and a head jamb, a dado joint construction interconnecting the upper end of each side jamb with the end portions of the head jamb, said joint construction comprising a transversely extending groove in the bottom surface of the head jamb adjacent each end thereof, the remote outer walls of said grooves being downwardly and outwardly inclined, the upper end of each side jamb having a bevelled outer corner engaging the inclined wall of the corresponding groove for wedging the side jambs inwardly toward the inner walls of said grooves when the head jamb is forced downwardly onto the upper ends of the side jambs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,872,711 2/ 1959 Killebrew 28720.92 3,007,559 11/ 1961 Goldberg 49-505 3,060,522 10/1962 Parker 49505 3,200,447 8/ 1965 Parker 49-504 3,226,775 1/1966 Workman 49-380 FOREIGN PATENTS 519,845 12/1955 Canada. 18,159 10/ 1902 Sweden.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

KENNETH DOWNEY, Examiner. 

5. IN A DOOR FRAME HAVING A PAIR OF SIDE JAMBS AND A HEAD JAMB, A DADO JOINT CONSTRUCTION INTERCONNECTING THE UPPER END OF EACH SIDE JAMB WITH THE END PORTIONS OF THE HEAD JAMB, SAID JOINT CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING GROOVE IN THE BOTTOM SURFACE OF THE HEAD JAMB ADJACENT EACH END THEREOF, THE REMOTE OUTER WALLS OF SAID GROOVES BEING DOWNWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY INCLINED, THE UPPER END OF EACH SIDE JAMB HAVING A BEVELLED OUTER CORNER ENGAGING THE INCLINED WALL OF THE CORRESPONDING GROOVE FOR WEDGING THE SIDE JAMBS INWARDLY TOWARD THE INNER WALLS OF SAID GROOVES WHEN THE HEAD JAMB IS FORCED DOWNWARDLY ONTO THE UPPER ENDS OF THE SIDE JAMBS. 